Perot Museum provides living lesson

Updated 2:57 pm, Friday, November 23, 2012

The new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, named for Ross and Margot Perot, is seen at night.

The new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, named for Ross and Margot Perot, is seen at night.

Photo: Mark Knight Photography

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The Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall in the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas includes interactive exhibits on robot design, 3D animation and digital electronics.

The Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall in the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas includes interactive exhibits on robot design, 3D animation and digital electronics.

Photo: Mark Knight Photography

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Dallas' new Perot Museum of Nature and Science includes the Expanding Universe Hall, home to images from the Hubble Space Telescope and a 3D animated journey through the solar system, among other exhibits.

Dallas' new Perot Museum of Nature and Science includes the Expanding Universe Hall, home to images from the Hubble Space Telescope and a 3D animated journey through the solar system, among other exhibits.

Photo: Mark Knight Photography

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A glass-encased escalator in the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science overlooks downtown Dallas.

A glass-encased escalator in the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science overlooks downtown Dallas.

Photo: Mark Knight Photography

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Discovering Life Hall is one of 11 main exhibition areas inside the 180,000-square-foot Perot Museum of Nature and Science, opening in Dallas Dec. 1.

Discovering Life Hall is one of 11 main exhibition areas inside the 180,000-square-foot Perot Museum of Nature and Science, opening in Dallas Dec. 1.

Photo: Jason Janik

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Horseback riding in the Otavalo highland of Ecuador is on the itinerary of Jacada Travel's new cultural immersion tour of Ecuador.

Horseback riding in the Otavalo highland of Ecuador is on the itinerary of Jacada Travel's new cultural immersion tour of Ecuador.

Photo: Jacada Travel

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Learning some of the customs of the Huaorani tribe is part of a new cultural immersion tour of Ecuador offered by Jacada Travel.

Learning some of the customs of the Huaorani tribe is part of a new cultural immersion tour of Ecuador offered by Jacada Travel.

Photo: Huaorani Lodge

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Some eight million straw-colored fruit bats, seen here in captivity, fly from the Congo to Zambia in late fall in the world's largest mammal migration.

Some eight million straw-colored fruit bats, seen here in captivity, fly from the Congo to Zambia in late fall in the world's largest mammal migration.

Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm

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The new QT Sydney hotel is a renovation of two historic buildings in Sydney's Central Business District: the Gowings department store and the State Theatre, an official Australian national heritage site.

The new QT Sydney hotel is a renovation of two historic buildings in Sydney's Central Business District: the Gowings department store and the State Theatre, an official Australian national heritage site.

Photo: Jason Loucas, Design Hotels

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Perot Museum provides living lesson

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New museum

Dallas: Romney sons, listen up. Ross Perot's five children honored their unelected father by giving $50 million toward the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, set to open Saturday. Interactive exhibits are also planned for its admission-free lobby, plaza and science park. perotmuseum.org.

Wildlife

Zambia: Go a little batty at Kasanka National Park, where about 8 million fruit bats migrating from Congo feast on musuku fruits and darken the sky during sunset flights through December. www.africantravelinc.com.

New hotel

Sydney: The 200-room QT Sydney isn't keeping quiet about its reuse of two central business district landmarks, the Gowings department store and the State Theatre as a showcase for self-described "edgy, contemporary design." Rates start at $392. www.qtsydney.com.au.

New tour

Ecuador: Quito is the launching point for an eight-night cultural immersion trip that includes actual immersion - swimming in the Amazon with the Huaorani tribe - plus riding horses, exploring pre-Incan pyramids and visiting workshops in the Otavalo region, from $4,877 per person. www.jacadatravel.com.

Holiday

Albania: Here comes a double dose of freedom-inspired festivities. The centennial of Independence Day, when nationalist leaders declared an end to Ottoman rule, is Wednesday; Liberation Day follows Thursday, marking partisans' defeat of German occupying forces in 1944.

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